麻豆社

As Yugoslavia began to break down, the Balkans conflict began - a series of brutal wars characterised by disputes over territory, identity, and ethnic divisions.

In 1991, the Croatian War of Independence started 鈥� the first of the major wars. One of its defining moments came in October, when the Yugoslav People鈥檚 Army advanced on the south of the country leading to the Siege of Dubrovnik.

One of the Yugoslav People鈥檚 Army commanders in the region was Rear Admiral Krsto Durovi膰, a Montenegrin who had spent his life working in Croatia, married a Croatian and planned to retire to the country.

Attacking Dubrovnik was unthinkable for the Rear Admiral, and he promised the city鈥檚 major: 鈥淎s long as I am the commander, not a single shell will fall on Dubrovnik."

Shortly afterwards he was killed in a suspicious helicopter crash 鈥� his superiors claimed he was shot down, but there were no opposition forces in the area, and Croatian officials denied any part in the crash.

There was never an autopsy and no military investigation. Soon after, Miodrag Jokic was appointed Durovi膰鈥檚 replacement, and a vicious bombing campaign began which would later see Jokic convicted of war crimes.

Johnny I鈥橝nson speaks to Montenegrin journalist Veseljko Koprivica, and documentary maker Mladen Ivanovic who say Rear Admiral 膼urovi膰鈥檚 refusal to bomb Dubrovnik may have led to his untimely death.

Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.

Recent episodes explore everything from football in Brazil, the history of the 鈥業ndian Titanic鈥� and the invention of air fryers, to Public Enemy鈥檚 Fight The Power, subway art and the political crisis in Georgia. We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: visionary architect Antoni Gaudi and the design of the Sagrada Familia; Michael Jordan and his bespoke Nike trainers; Princess Diana at the Taj Mahal; and G枚rel Hanser, manager of legendary Swedish pop band Abba on the influence they鈥檝e had on the music industry. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the time an Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes at the President of the United States in protest of America鈥檚 occupation of Iraq; the creation of the Hollywood commercial that changed advertising forever; and the ascent of the first Aboriginal MP.

(Photo: Rear Admiral Durovi膰. Credit: Durovi膰 family)

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